The tumultuous Mets tenure of Jason Bay, a three-year-span riddled with injuries and marred by ineffectiveness, ended with a whimper on Wednesday afternoon. The team bought out the remaining dollars on his contract and cut him loose. The euphemism that the two sides “agree to part ways” papered over the obvious conclusion to be drawn from the decision.

“Jason has a tremendous work ethic,” general manager Sandy Alderson said in a statement. “There was never any question about it. Unfortunately, the results weren’t there and we are in a results-oriented business. We thank Jason for his efforts and wish him well.”

Bay fell far short of the heights promised by the four-year, $66 million contract he signed with the team heading into the 2010 season. Instead, the Mets will pay the remaining $21 million on his contract and granted him unconditional free agency. The New York Post first reported the amount of the buyout: Bay is owed $16 million in salary for 2013, a $3 million buyout for the team’s 2014 option and $2 million remaining from his signing bonus.

“I still feel I have plenty to give to this game and that I can play baseball at a high level,” Bay said in a statement. “But after serious consideration, both sides agree that we would benefit from a fresh start. I’m grateful we were able to reach an agreement to allow that to happen. I’m excited to keep playing and have no intention of just walking away.

“I enjoyed my time in New York. I have no regrets in signing with the Mets, other than that I wasn’t able to play to the level that the team, the fans and I all expected and that we weren’t able to win more games. I move on with nothing but an appreciation for the organization and its fans and best wishes to all my teammates there.”